Self-tilting bed



Nov. 10, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS SELF-TILTING BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April16, 1947 Nov. l0, 1953 D. c. 'rmwlsv SELF-TILTING BED w Y K w m (J l |II I l W n Q u O O u Q +MMT vwl Il LII: S. l t .1. a 21 l v m w s 4 nuFiled April 16. 1947 Nov. 10, 1953 D, C, TRAv|s 2,658,209

- SELF-TILTING BED Filed April 16, 1947 4 Smets-Sheet 5 Nov. l0, 1953 D.c. TRAVIS I SELF-nume BED 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1947 PatentedNov. 10, 1953 2,658,209 SELF-TILTIN'GBED Don Carlos Travis, Kenosha,,-Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application April 16, 1947, Serial No. 741,870

Claims. (Cl. 5-66) v provide improved meansnormally tending to disposesaid bedbottomrsections to v.occupy nonhorizontal angular positions;toprovide` such an improved arrangement Iand 'relationshipI of 'saidmounting means -an'd said normally-tending means as to kInakeLtIi'eshifting of `thesections out of and into valined horizontal positionseasily attained by slight 'mus'cularimovements or body shifts oftheoccupant-ofthe `vbed orlightpressure by an'atte'ndantto an occupant;k'toiprovide improved manuallyiretra'ctable means normally actuated tolock said sections in the horizontal and each of several-'angularpositions; `to provide improved latch means f forV rendering saidlocking means unretractable; Ito provide improved safety means forpreventing the suddenl action of said angularity-disposing means when'said llocking means lis inadvertently retracted "'ata time when thebed'is without lmattress or occupant; toprovide improved Ameans i foreffecting ainanual adjustment lof theffoot'isection-in a bed of thiskind; and to provide Jan 'improved mounting of a reading -lamp e on'the' bed; bottom whereby it wi11'be'fadjusted automatically to themost-desired angular-dispositionrelative to the back section for eachldie'rentangular 1 position thereof.

In the accompanyingA drawings,

Fig. 1 'is' aplan view of va self-tiltingbed constructed in accorda-ncewith this l invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevationofthe `construction shown in Fig. 1,*'asviewedfrom 4the side on `which the manual controls l-a're located;

Fig. 3 is an 'opposite' side elevation;

Fig. 4 is an-fenlarge'ddetailf-viewfof themanually-retracta-blelocking-y mechanism;

Fig. 5 ris an end viewlr'ofthe same;

Figs. 6, 7, 8,'an'd'1921-are perspective Views illustrating some'ofthefvarious-relative angular positions into which the-.bed bottoml'sections may-be adjusted; and

Fig 10 is a'side-;,elevationl Vof i theybed showing,

inj full; and dottedgoutlines, thega'ltercd langular relationship of thebed lamp and bed-bottom back section when the latter is in itshorizontal and extreme angular positions, respectively.

A bed constructed in accordance with this invention comprises, a mainsupporting frame I 0 whereon is mounted a sectional bed bottom II which,under the control of the occupant or an attendant, may be shifted intoand locked in various relative angular positions as determined by acombination balancing and locking mechanism l2 and a foot-sectionadjusting means I 3.

The supporting frame I0 is preferably of the usual angle ironconstruction comprising a pair of side rails I 4 and I5 reinforced bytransverse struts It, Il, and.l I8 and so assembled and` provided withauxiliary vattachments as to permit the frame I 6 veither to besupported directly on a pair of head and foot ends or to be set on the yside rails of a bedstead, in exactly the same manner as a conventionalstandard spring isset onto a conventional standard bedstead. lfn theconstruction herein `shown the side rails I4 and I5 have `ilanfge platesI9 secured at each end which mount pairs of pins adapted to be receivedin the conventional Atype notches (not shown) formed in plates 2lsecured to legs 22 of the head and foot ends.

vand out of position to determine the The transverse struts I6, I'I, andI8 are preferably of angle iron, being riveted at their ends to the siderails I4 and I5. The transverse strut I6 has a bar 23, mounting rubberbumpers 24, swingably attached thereto andvshiftable into n horizontaldisposition of the sectional bed bottom II.

The bed bottom section II comprises a back 4section 25, a seat section26, and a footsection 2l, hingedly connected rtogether at28 and 29 andsupported on apair of brackets 30 and 3I- anda pair of links 32 and 33in such a manner that these several sections r25, 26, and 21 may beshifted into and out of several different non-horizontal angularpositions as determined either by vthe desire ofthe yoccupant undercertain circumstances or by the desire of the attendant to the occupantunder certain other circumstances.

These bed `bottom sections 25, 26,-and 2l are made up vof the usualangle iron forms, asclearly indicated in the drawings, reinforced bytubular struts 38 and 39, which are welded to'and depend from theunderside of the back section frame, and a strut'lll, riveted to thefoot section 21 nearthe end thereof adjacent its connection-with theseat-section `26. Thestrut-38-is positioned yso as to engage the bumpers24 on thebar'23,

when the-latterisin its upright position, so as to limit the downwardmovement of the back 3 section 25 and thereby dispose all of thesections in a horizontal plane. These reinforced frames provide asupport for a fabricated bed bottom 34 secured to the sides and ends ofthe respective sections by conventional springs 35.

The back section 25 and seat section 26 are hingedly connected togetherat 28 by means of extensions 36 riveted or otherwise anchored to theside rails of the seat section 26. Similarly, the seat section 26 andthe foot section 21 are hingedly connected together at 29 by means ofextensions 31 riveted or otherwise anchored to the side rails of thefoot section 21. The respective lengths of the sections 25, 26, and 21are such that the pivotal connections 28 and 29, for most occupants of abed of this kind, when the bed sections are in horizontal position, willcome at about or near to the middle of the buttock and at the knees,respectively.

The brackets 30 and 3| are riveted or otherwise anchored to the siderails I4 and I5 respectively. They are so positioned longitudinally ofthe frame I that the pivotal connection 4| to the back section 25 isspaced an appreciable distance toward the head end of the back section25 away from the hinge connection 28 of the sections 25 and 26.

The relative location of the pivots 4I to the hinge connection 23 is ofvital importance. The aim is to so locate the pivots 4I and hingeconnection 28 with regard to the body of the occupant of the bed thatthe buttock, when the bed sections are horizontal, will be footward ofthe pivotal connection 4I and the middle of the buttock approximatelyalined with the hinged connection 26. Such a positioning of these pivotsresults in a balancing of the Weight of the occupant on the back section25 and seat section 26 so that a slight shifting of the weightlongitudinally of the bed relative to the pivotal connection 4I willtend to determine the angularity of the bed sections as influenced andpermitted by the combination balancing and locking mechanism I2.

The links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected at 32a to the side rails I4and I5 of the frame I0 and at 32h to the side rails of the seat section26, The pivotal connection 32h is slightly headward from the hingedconnections 29 of the seat section 26 and foot section 21. The positionof the pivotal connection 32a is below but slightly headward of thepivotal connection 32h, when the bed bottom sections 25, 26, and 21 arein their normal horizontally-alined positions. The rocking of theselinks permits the shifting of the seat section 26 longitudinally of theframe I0 and to assume an angular position when the back section isshifted to a non-horizontal position.

The combination balancing and locking mechanism I2 comprises anadjustable tension spring 42, a locking mechanism 43, and a safetydevice 44.

The tension spring 42 is secured at one end to a lug 45 welded to thestrut 39 on the bedbottom back section 25. The other end of the springis anchored to a nut 46 which is threaded to a rod 41 journaled on thereinforcing strut I6 of the frame I0 and provided with a crank handle46. Such an arrangement of the spring 42 tends to urge the back section25 toward a vertical position as shown in Figs. '7, 8, and 9. The forceof the spring acting in this manner is of course determined by theadjustment of the nut 45 on the rod 41. That force would be governed bythe weight of the occupant of the bed.

The locking mechanism 43 comprises a notched segment 49, aspring-actuated locking pawl 50, and a retracting handle 5 I.

The segment 49 is secured to the side rail of the back section 25 sothat the axis of the notched periphery 52 of the segment is coincidentwith the pivot connection 4I of the bracket 30 and the back section 25.As will be most clearly observed irom Fig. 5, the segment is oilset at53 and recessed at 54 so that the notched periphery 52 is locatedinwardly of the bracket 36. Obviously, the number of notches determinesthe number of angular positions in which the back section may be locked.

The pawl 50 is pivotally mounted at 55 on the bracket 30 and normally isurged by a spring 56 into engagement with the notched periphery 52 ofthe segment 49. The pawl is so positioned that when the bed-bottomsections are horizontal the pawl engages the next to the last notch (seeFigs. 2 and 4). This provides for the back section 25 to be shifteddownwardly from the horizontal and locked, as shown in Fig. 6.

The retracting handle 5I is a looped rod, the inner ends of which areanchored to an arm 51 pivoted concentrically with the pawl 56 at 55. Anotch 58 formed in the lower end of the arm 51 straddles a pin 59 on thepawl 50. Thus a headward pull on the handle 5I will shift the pawl 50against the action oi the spring 56 to disengage it from the notchedperiphery 52 of the segment 49. The notch 58 is slightly larger than thepin 59. This allows the spring 56 to effect engagement of pawl 56 withthe notched segment without having to swing the handle 5I through thefull arc of its movement.

A latch 60, pivoted at 6I on the bracket 66, is shiftable into and outof position to engage the outer end of the pawl to render itunretractive by means of the handle 5I.

An apron 62 is secured to the side rail of the back section 25 so as toextend below and protectively cover the notched periphery 52 of thesegment 49.

The safety device 44 comprises a bar 63 hinged to an arm 64 on the backsection 25 and shiftable relative to a pair of spaced shoulders 65 and66.

The bar 63 is recessed along its upper and lower edges to provideparallel series of cam-shoulders 61 and hook-shoulders rachet teeth 68adapted to co-act respectively with the pins or shoulders 65 and 66. Aswill be noted from Fig. 3, the camshoulders 61 are so formed that forthe movement of the bar 63 in either direction it will be deflectedupwardly by the cam-shoulder or pin 65 but its longitudinal movementwill not be checked. On the other hand, the hook-shoulders or teeth 68are so formed that upon engagement of one of such hook-shoulders withthe pin or shoulder 66 no further longitudinal movement of the bar 63headward o! the frame section III would be permitted.

The pins or shoulders 65 and 66 are spaced apart vertically a distanceslightly greater than the width of the bar 63. Thus during a controlledmovement of the bed-bottom back section 25 the cam-shoulder 61 willelevate the bar 63 slowly and allow it to recede as the segment 49 movesto change the engagement of the pawl 50 with adjacent notches 52. As aconsequence there will be no engagement of any one of the hook-shoulders68 with the pin or shoulder 66. On the other hand, a sudden headwardmovement of the bar 63 would cause a cam-shoulder vf'rri'ding' "up'v'er1ithe pin or shulderfi to elevate the bar 63 enough'to-causeftheengagement fo'f 'a'hook-shoulder "68 with the pin or shoulder 66. 'ThisWoul'darrest'an'y further 'movement of 'the bar 63 luntil there had beena'sufcient retraction of 'the bar 563 footward as -to Vrelease thehook-shoulder 68 from the pin or shoulder 6'6.

The shoulder V65 ypreferably constitutes a pivot for an arm'69 whichmounts thepin 'or shoulder 66. v'A spring 'l'con'nec'ting the lower endof the arm`69 and the reinforcing strut y`f`II of the frame I'I)`normally `urges the arm 69 vinto =a vertical A"position 'as shown inFig. A3-and is arrested by a shoulder (not shown) on the side rail I5 ofthe supporting frame I0. This spring v'III serves to `absorb the shockAof a sudden engagement of one of `the hook-Shoulders 68 on v`the`bar 63with 'the pin or shoulder YII.

The number and relative disposition of the bar-shoulders l6l and V68 aresuch that theywill -co-act Awith lthe pins or shoulders "65 and 66 toarrest the movement of the back section v25 for each accidental releaseof the pawl 50 for the `first four peripheral notches 52 on the segment'49, figuring from right to left on Fig. 4.

vA housing II is 'mounted on the side rail I5 of the supporting frame I0to enclose these safety device parts and prevent accidental accessthereto.

The foot-'section adjusting means I3 comprises a pair-of links orhangers 'I2 and `13 each of which Imounts -f-a spring-actuatedroller-arm I4 and 14', respectively, connected by a bar 14a.

The-position o'fthese arms isvcletermined primari1y` byranoperating-handle 15.

Thelink 'I2 'includes ageneral vertically extending -arm 'portion "12arigidly vattached to a .median point Vvof a longitudinally extendingstraight portion soas to provide a headward extension 18. Thelink 'I3is'formed from a single lbar which is bent to 'correspond to theangularity of fthe 'arm 'and footwardly Vextending portions :of'the link12. The upper end ofthe arm portion 12a of link`l2, and the'headward endof link 'I3 are pivoted 'to-'the hinge connection 29 of the-`seatsection 26 'and'foot section21, andthe foot- `Ward-end of`rthe'links 'I2 fand 'I3 are pivoted to links I6 which inturnfare'pivoted'at "I'I to the s'idefr'ails VI4 and I5 of thesupporting frame I0. Alever 19 1in-the -form of a plate is pivoted to'the extension 'Isfand is connected yto'roller 'arm v'I4 by'means'o'f aconnecting link 80. An oper- `lating f'handle '15, similar 'in shape to'handle '5 I -issecured tothe link I9 and serves to 'shift theroller'arm 'M'to elevate Vthe foot section '21, as

willflater be described in detail.

-PI'he roller arms I4 and I4 are'pivoted at 8| fto "therespectivelinks'I2 and 'I3 near the headwardend of the foot'section 21. Each has'aroller 82 on theupper end thereof engaging the lunder side ofthe flangedside'rail of said foot fse'ction 527. Springs 83and 83' interposedbeltweenthe arms 114 and v'I4' and the links "I2 and l"I3 normally urge-the roller arms headward of the bed soas to tend-to elevate the footsection 21 when free of the Weight of a mattress and Lthelegsof anoccupant of ther bed.

Apair of arms'or ngers 84 are concentrically pivoted with theconnectionof the links I2 and 'I3 to the arms 76, -and are connected 'togetherupper ends in engagement'-'withfthe vunder faces of the flanged siderails of the foot section 21.

l Pins 86 on thearms'84 arepsitioned'to abut shoulders 8l onthearms'16fand'limitfthe. movement of the "ngers 84 when swungheadwardly beyond a vertical position.

Inasmuch as this bed has beendesigned yprimarily for use either by a.convalescent :person or by one whose condition requires such va ione tospend a good deal orall of the ytime inbed, or for one who merely flikesto read in l'bed, .a lamp is mounted on the .bed andkotherwisefconnected thereto sothatits angularity with regard to theback section will be automatically viadjusted with the angular movementsof the :bed bottom sections. The vaim is to secure'anadjustment of thelight in approximately the position most convenient for reading by theoccupant of the bed. To Vthat end a shaded electric lamp 88, preferablyof Ithe fiuorescent type, fis mounted on a post 89 pivotally connectedto fa clamp plate 90 and further connected by a rod 9I to the bracket3I.

The post 89, pivoted to the clamp 90 'at 92, has an extension 93 belowthe side rail kof ithe back section 25 and to which is connected the rod9I. The clamp plate 90 .is secured to the side rail of the back section25 by means .of 1.a hand screw l94, so asfto position the lamp'post 89approximately even with the head endofthe back section 25.

The rod 9I is connected to the bracket 3| at the point 96 belowthepivotal connectioni-4| lwith the back section 25 and footwardly4thereof :so that, when the back section 25 is shifted fromitshorizontal position :to any of its upwardlnonhorizontal positions, thetransverse.'angularityof the lamp post 39will beincreased gradually,thus throwing the lamp 88 further headward of the bed-bottom backlsection vas it moves into Yits extreme upwardly-inclined `angularposition (see Fig, l0). Incidentally, this connection ensures the lampbeing kept out of contact with the` head of the bed, particularly whenthe back section 25 is declined below the horizontal.

The operationofthe bed herein 4'shown issubstantially as follows:

With a mattresson the bed bottom the tension of the spring 152.15 soadjusted to the-'character of the occupant, from thestandpont of weightand length, that upon retracting the .pawl 58 through an elevati-cn ci'the handle AEil the bedbottom sections may be shifted between theirnormal horizontally-aimed positionsV andany of several angularpostionsbyeither the loccupant of the bed or an attendant, and with a very slighteifort on the part 'of either.

For the occupant, when the bed-*bottom sections are in their 'alinedhorizontal positions, a slight sluiting of the 'weight footwardlyrelative to the hinged connection A28 of the back vsection 25 tothe-seat section 26, and-therefore of'necessity relative to the pivotalsupport'4 I of the'back section 25, will permit the force of thespring'42 to urge the back section 25 'toward its eXtreme angularposition. Once the pawl 581s retracted. and the weight of the occupantthus shifted, the back section 25`will move `instantly to suchan.extreme angular position, as shown in Fig. "9, unless arrested by therelease of thepawl-retract-- ing handle 5 I.

The seat section 26 andthe foot section "2"Iwill be shifted headwardly'slightly and, of necessity, into angular positions asshown'in Fig. "9.

AWhenthe bed'bottomsections occupy any'nonyhorizontal angular ipositionsJand the eoccupant desires to have the bed bottom sections assumevwardly-inclined position. -against an emergency where the bed wasunoccupied and the mattress was removed and a per- .son was bending overthe bed for the purpose of their normal horizontally-alined positions,the occupant has only to retract the pawl l) and then slightly extendthe body against the seat section and/or press his head and shouldersagainst the back section 25. Such a shift in the occupants weight willbe sufcient to counterbalance the effect of the spring 52 so as to causethe back section to swing about the pivot 4I to a horizontal position,causing the other sections to shift accordingly.

In the event an attendant desires to do the shifting of the bed bottomsections, in either of the ways above mentioned, it is only necessary toretract the pawl 50, by applying one hand to the handle 5I, and apply alittle pressure at the head end of the back section 25.

If at any time it should be desired to have the back section 25 declinebelow the horizontal, it is only necessary to swing the bumper bar 23 soas to move it out of alinement with the strut 38 whereupon the backsection 25 could be depressed, by either the occupant or the attendantin the manner above explained, to occupy the position shown in Fig. 6.

When the section 25 is in its declined position,

the effort which the occupant is required to exert to cause thebed-bottom sections to assume a horizontal position is somewhat greaterthan is required to start the shift of the back section 25 upwardly outof horizontal position. This fact is apparent for the reason that, whenthe back section is in a declined position, it is not so easy for theoccupant to shift the weight up the inoline of the back section.However, the occupant is aided by the fact that the transverse part 98of the handle 5I, where it connects with the arm 51, abuts against thesurface 99 on the segment 49. Thus, the pull on the handle 5| results inthe transverse part 98 of the handle 5| bearing against the segment 49at the point 99 and providing a cam section that helps to initiate theupward swing of the back section 25 toward its norma-l horizontalposition. When the surface 99 on the segment 49 is displacedsufiiciently toward the head of the bed. the transverse portions 98 ofthe handle 5I are engageable with the bracket 3U to prevent furthermovement of the handle 5I. It will be apparent, therefore, that whetherfurther movement of the handle 5|, after disengagement of the pawl 50,is arrested initially by its engagement with the surface 99 of thesegment 49, as when the back section is disposed in its horizontal orlower-than-horizontal position, or by engagement with the bracket 30, aswhen the back section is raised above the horizontal, the handle 5|serves as a brace against which the bed occupant can pull to assisthimself in adjusting the position of the bed bottom.

In the event it is desired to render the pawl 50 unretractable, eitheraccidentally or by the occupant of the bed, the latch 60 can be thrownup into the position shown in Fig. 4.

The safety device 44 is provided so as to ensure against a suddenswinging of the back section 25 from a horizontal position, or from anyof its non-horizontal positions short of its extreme upwardly-inclinedposition, into such extreme up- This is to provide cleaning or doingother work on the back section.

Were it not for this safety device and the handle .5l were, under suchcircumstances, accidentally depressed to disengage the pawl 50, thesudden upward swinging of the back section 25 might cause severe headinjury.

With this safety device operative, if one were thus bent over the backsection and accidentally actuated the handle 5| to retract the pawl 50,the sudden movement of the bar 63 would cause the cam shoulder 64 actingon one of the cam shoulders 61 to throw the bar 63 upwardly with suchforce as to cause the engagement of one of the hook-shoulders 68 withthe pin or shoulder 66. The hook-shoulders 68 in number and in positionare such that an uncontrolled movement of the back section could only befor the distance between any one of the first five notches of thesegment 49.

When the pair of ngers or arms 84 are in their elevated position, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be obvious that, with the shifting ofthe back section 25 into and out of its horizontal position, the seatand foot sections 26 and 21 are automatically shifted into certainangular positions. As the pivotal connection 28, of the back section 25to the seat section 26, moves in an arc around the pivotal connection 4|of the back section 25 to the brackets 30 and 3|, said seat and footsections are not only shifted headwardly or footwardly of the bed frameI6 but are drawn into predetermined angular positions with respect tothe back section 25.

Obviously, the headward and footward swinging of the links 32 and 33will cause a corresponding headward and footward movement of the links12 and 13 and a rocking of the supporting arms 16. This will alter theangularity of the fingers or arms 84 when in their elevated positions,as will most clearly be seen from Fig. 9. Also, in the absence of anycounteracting manual shifting of the handle 15 the roller arm 14 will befurther depressed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Thus, because of theweight of the mattress and the occupants feet on the foot section 21,the normal tendency of the foot section 21, when the head section 25 isshifted out of its horizontal position, will be for the footward endthereof to drop toward the supporting frame.

There may be occasions when it is desired to have the foot section 21elevated with regard to the seat section 26. This can be effected by aheadward pull on the handle 15 by either the patient or an attendant.The consequent swinging of the handle plate 19, about its pivot to thelink 18, will cause a headward movement of the roller arms 14 and 14 toa position such as shown in Figs. 6 and 8 and as a consequence supportthe foot section 21 in an elevated position.

From Fig. 10 it will be noted that when the bed bottom sections 25, 26,and 21 are in their normally horizontally-alined positions the lamp post89 is perpendicular to the plane of these sections. Hence, the light ofthe lamp 88 will be in the best position for the occupant in such aprone position. As the back section 25 moves from the horizontal towardthe extreme inclined position, the rod 9| causes the lamp post 89 toswing headwardly and assume an angular position, with respect to thehead section, of considerably more than 90. This receding of the lamp 88tends to direct the illumination therefrom at an angle best for theoccupant of the bed when in an inclined position.

Variations and modifica-tions in the details of structure andarrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit andcoverage of the appended claims.

said". frame: provided at: their' upperends` with' pivotal connections.for,v said". bed-bottom back section at points on said back sectionmate.'-`

rially headward from the'` hingedconnection of saidback .andseatsections, means on said framev adjustablyk supporting saidiseatandfoot sectionsito permitthe relative angulardisposition ofsaidisections, means. normally urging said back section upwardly, anotched segmentrsecuredto saidi backsection coaxially of said pivotalconnectioncf said back section on one ofv'said brack ets; a pavvlpivotedon said one bracket and normally urged to engage saidnotched segment-forlocking'said back section in any one of several angularipcsitions, anupwardly-disposed arm pivotedconcentrically with said pawl, co-actingpinandaslot-means securing said pawl'and arm for unison movement, and ahandle secured to said armand extending upwardly above said bedbottom'sections,v said handle` being engageable withsaid'bracket aftersaid pav/l is disengaged from said'fsegment whereby said handle servesas a brace-against which the bed occupant may exert forceto effect ashifting of said sections.

2. Ina bed of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a bed bottom comprising a back section pivotally mounted on saidframe, afVseat section, and a foot section, all of which sections arehinged together at their abutting ends, means for shiftably supportingsaid seat section on said frame so as to permit the hinging .movement ofsaid seat and back sections when said back section is swung on itspivot, means-for securing said back section in any one of severalangular positions, a hanger pivoted at one end to said seat section andshiftably supported 'on Vsaid frame adjacent to the foot thereof, anarmpivoted on said hanger and movably engaging said bed-bottom footsection, and mannelly-operable means mounted on said hanger for rockingsaid arm so as. to rock said foot section and thereby vary the angularrelationship of saidfoot'section with respect to said seat section.

3. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a bed bottom comprising aback section pivotally mounted on saidframe', .aseat section, andafoot section, all of which sections arehinged together at their abutting ends, .a pair of links eachrpivotedatonefend tosaidframe and at the opposite end to a side of said iseatsection adjacent the hingedvconnection of saidseat section and said footsection so as to permit the hinging movement of saidseat and backsec-tions when said back section is lswung on itswpivot, means tendingto swing said back sectiont upwardly, manually-disengageable lockingmeans `normally serving to secure said back section-:1in any one ofseveral angular positions,-a hanger'pivoted at one endto saidseatfsection andsliiftably supported on saidframe adjacent to the footthereof, an arm pivotedonsaid hanger, a roller on the upperA end of saidarm engaging said footrsection, a lever pivoted to said hangen, a linkvconnecting-fsaid leveri and saidv arm, saidlever being manually actuableto shift-A said roller arm to changetheangular relationy ship of saidfoot section with respect to saidseat section, and a springconnecting'said' arm and said arm whereby. saidf handle 'may` beshifted'r` 10 hanger so as to normally urge said arm toward apositiomthat wouldzelevate,-.saidfifootfsection.

In: azbody supporting structure, theVL cambie nationioffafsupportingframe, an articulatedbedi bottomzm'oyablyrsupported thereon,saidibedkbot tom including azseatisection and:aiootssectionhingedlyzfconnectedwtcr,said seat sectionfto'permit" angular adjustmentof? said :foot section with: re`.y gardetozsaidiseatfsection, ahangerpivotedzto onei off;saidisectionseadjacent their hinged intercomnection andrmovably? supportedi on said frame; anarmipivotedzeonvsaidhanger and normally dise.

poSed'vvithzonee end; iny longitudinally movable:

supporting.v Contact:y withk said footl section;n a

handlef connected to.;v said f arm. and disposedE in:

convenient ,reachpofi an occupant normally. posturedonLsaid bed bottomwhereby saidlhandler mayzbe rshiftedzbyfsaidioccupantV to alterlth'eranguiarity ofsaidfrfoot: section :relative to'said seat'i section;

5': In: a: body-supporting structure, the fcombi*- nationfof faiframeg.aback section pivotally mount@v edvomsaidframe,aiseat section hingedlycon@v nec-tedftorsaidrback section and'shiftablylfsup-- supported on.;ysaid vl frame. to 1 permit longitudinal movement ofsaidlhanger relativeto saidfframe'y whenxsaidlback 'section is swung onfit's pivot,

an armfpivoted onsaid hanger and-'normallyl disposedi Witlr.y the upperendmovably engaging7 said; foot section,a handle pivoted 'onsaidlhang`erf andi' disposed in' convenient reach of an i. oc'- Icupantzinormally'postured'on said sections,andalinkconnectingasaidhandle to saidarm where-- by-,saidhandlemayfb'eshifted Aby the` occupant-ofi' said sections itorfalter the angularity:of saidifoot' section'rel'ative tosaid seat section.

6:K Ina a; body-'supporting structure the com-1 binati'cn `ofai frame; aback-'section pivotally-l mounted on said frame, a seatsectionhingedlyVv connected tosaid vibacler. section and supported .on

saidtframe to: permit1 movement of said lseatt sec i tionflongitudinallyofsaidframe when sadfback'f sectionlis shifteditochange itsangularitywith' regard". to.. sa-id frame;v manually disengageablfvlocking;meansinormally servingI toV secure said backsectionin anyy one:Aof several angular posi tions, azfooti sectionhinged at one'of its endstot saidcseati section and being free at rits other endahangerlpivotedto the hinged connection of;sair;i.rseati7 and.' footsections and extending-v beneathsaid:footlsection towardA the freeYend'1 thercofyal rocker arm pivotally connecting the footward;endlkoffsaid fh'anger and said frame to permit;longitudinalmovement ofsaid hanger'` relativeit'o said framer when said back section`v` isiswungonits'pivot; an arm pivoted on said hangeru andinormallyV disposedwith its upper Aend 4 moveablyengaging-said "'foot section, a handlevpivotedVr onzsaidh'ange-n an'ddisposed in convenient reach' ofx anoccupant normally postured on saidy seca tionsVand a. link connectingsaid handle and angularity:- of said' foot" section relative tol said`4tion of a supporting frame, a back-support section pivoted on to saidframe for swinging movement between a reclined position and an upwardlyextending position, means for urging said back-support section towardsaid upwardly extending position, inter-engageable stop means connectedrespectively to said back-support section and to said frame forpreventing relative movement of said back-support section and saidframe, said stop means being normally disengaged throughout gradualupward movement of said back support section, and means responsive tosudden upward movement of said back-support section to effect engagementof said stop means.

8. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supportingframe, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swingingmovement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position,means for urging said back support section toward said upwardlyextending position, a hook member connected to said back-support sectionand movable therewith relative to said frame, a shoulder on said frameadapted to be engaged by said hook member to prevent'relative movementof said backsupport section and said frame, said hook member and saidshoulder being normally disengaged throughout gradual upward movement ofsaid back-support section, and means responsive to sudden upwardmovement of said back-support section to effect engagement of said hookmember with said shoulder.

9. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supportingframe, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swingingmovement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position,means for urging said backsupport section toward said upwardly extendingposition, a shoulder on said frame, a ratchet member connected to saidback section and adapted to engage said shoulder to prevent upwardmovement of said back-support section, said ratchet member beingnormally disengaged from said shoulder, and means responsive to suddenupward movement of said back-support section to cause said ratchetmember to engage said shoulder.

10. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supportingframe, a back-support section pivoted on said frame for swingingmovement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position,means for urging said back support section toward said upwardlyextending position, a pair of spaced apart shoulders on said frame and abar connected to said back section for longitudinal axial movementbetween and relative to said shoulders when said back support section isshifted on its pivot, said bar having teeth formed along one edgeengageable with one of said shoulders to prevent upward movement of saidback-support section, said bar having on its opposite edge a series ofcam surfaces normally engaged with the other of said shoulders toalternately move said teeth toward said one shoulder during saidlongitudinal movement, said teeth being normally disengaged from saidone shoulder during gradual upward movement of said back support sectionbut being deected into engagement with said one shoulder when said backsection is abruptly raised.

11. An adjustable bed comprising a supporting frame, a bed bottomincluding a foot section and an adjacent section hingedly connected tosaid foot section, means movably supporting said adjacent section uponsaid frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame, a movablesupport for said foot section including an upwardly extended armpivotally connected to said frame and movably engaging said footsection, and a link pivotally connected to said adjacent section and tosaid arm, said foot section normally resting upon the upper end of saidarm.

12. An adjustable bed comprising a supporting frame, a bed bottomincluding a foot section and an adjacent section hingedly connected tosaid foot section, means movably supporting said adjacent section uponsaid frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame, a movablesupport for said foot section including a link pivotally connected atone end to said adjacent section and a second link pivoted to said frameand to said first-mentioned link, an upwardly extending arm pivoted onsaid second link and movably engaging said foot section, said footsection normally resting upon the upper end of said arm, said arm beingmovable on its pivot to a non-supporting position to permit said footsection to be lowered.

13. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a bed bottom comprising a back section pivotally mounted on saidframe, a seat section, and a foot section, all of which sections arehinged together at their abutting ends, said seat section beingshiftably mounted on said frame so as to permit the hinging movement ofsaid seat and back sections when said back section is swung on itspivot, a hanger pivoted at one end to said seat section and a linkpivoted to said frame and to said hanger, an upwardly extending armpivoted to said link and normally engaging said foot section todetermine the normal position thereof, a second arm pivoted on saidhanger, a roller on the upper end of said second arm engaging said footsection, a lever pivoted to said hanger, and a second link connectingsaid lever and said second arm, said lever being manually actuable toshift said second arm to change the angular relationship of said footsection with respect to said seat section, said rst mentioned arm beingshiftable to a non-engaging position to permit said foot section to belowered.

14. In a body supporting structure, the combination of a supportingframe, a back support section pivoted on said frame for swingingmovement between a reclined position and an upwardly extending position,means for urging said back support section toward said upwardlyextending position, a pair of spaced apart shoulders on said frame and abar connected to said back section for longitudinal axial movementbetween and relative to said shoulders when said back support section isshifted on its pivot, said bar having teeth formed along one edgeengageable with one of said shoulders to prevent upward movement of saidback support section, said bar having on its opposite edge a series ofcam surfaces normally engaged with the other of said shoulders toalternately move said teeth toward said one shoulder during saidlongitudinal movement, said teeth being normally disengaged from saidone shoulder during gradual upward movement of said back support sectionbut being deected into engagement with said one shoulder when said backsection is abruptly raised, said one shoulder being resilientlycushioned on said frame to absorb the shock of the engagement therewithof said teeth.

15. An adjustable bed structure comprising a supporting frame, a bedbottom including a foot 13 section and an adjacent section hingedlyconnected to said foot section, means movable supporting said sectionson said frame for shifting movement longitudinally of said frame and forangular adjustment of said foot section relative to said adjacentsection as an incident to said shifting movement, said means includingan upwardly extending arm pfivoted to said supporting frame and siidabiyengaging said foot section, and link means interconnecting said arm andsaid adjacent section for swinging said arm downwardly when saidsections are shifted toward the head of said bed structure.

DON CARLOS TRAVIS.

References Cited in the 111e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Number Name Date Arrigoni Mar. 4, 1919 Muller July 24, 1928Muller Feb. 12, 1929 Anderson Apr. 30, 1929 Muller Jan. 27, 1931 BantlyAug. 29, 1932 Caldwell May 23, 1939 Caidwell et al Deo. 1, 1942 WahlAug'. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 20, 1936

